Flowers and Plants

News about Flowers and Plants, including commentary and archival articles published in The New York Times.

Chronology of Coverage

Mar. 10, 2015

Study in Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences finds that tropical plant Heliconia is successfully pollinated only by two types of hummingbirds. MORE

Jan. 29, 2015

Flower clocks, known as Horologium Florae, are garden beds of plants whose blooms open reliably at certain hours, placed in precise order; were first conceived by Carl Linnaeus in 1751 and are still planted in some places. MORE

Jan. 8, 2015

Gadgetwise column; innovative products unveiled at annual International Consumer Electronics show include smartwatch from Withings, smart light bulb from Misfit and smart flower pot from Parrot. MORE

Jan. 1, 2015

Dec. 17, 2014

Aalsmeer Journal; auction system for flowers centered in Aalsmeer, Netherlands, is in midst of upheaval due to changes in global transportation network and growth of presales and direct shipping. MORE

Nov. 23, 2014

Giving of floral bouquets to ballerinas is highly codified practice and every ballet company has different rules and traditions for it. MORE

Oct. 21, 2014

Study in journal Science concludes that plants increase their odds of survival by growing thorns or by putting down roots in areas where carnivores are more likely to roam. MORE

Aug. 21, 2014

Alissia Melka-Teichroew’s new leather Strap Planters, inspired by hardware store products, are latest in line of accessories sold by Areaware. MORE

Aug. 19, 2014

Discovery of box huckleberry, thought to be one of oldest living things on earth, by garden curator Stefan Bloodworth in North Carolina has jumpstarted effort to revive critically imperiled plant; plant relies on similar box huckleberries around it to reproduce; one swath of box huckleberry found in Pennsylvania in early 20th century was estimated to be between 10,000 and 13,000 years old. MORE

Jul. 17, 2014

Floral crowns, reminiscent of Renaissance women or 1960s flower children, are having revival among chic urbanites; experts offer tips for how to wear them. MORE

Jul. 2, 2014

Study in journal Oecologia suggests that plants may have evolved ability to respond to sound in order to better protect themselves from predators. MORE

Jun. 15, 2014

Questions surround 2011 arrest of now 90-year-old Leo Sharp, who was most prolific drug courier for Sinaloa cartel in the United States; Sharp, who had been a very successful hybridizer of day lilies, was arrested after car he was driving was found to contain 104 kilos of cocaine; it is unclear what made him turn to drug trafficking. MORE

May. 3, 2014

White House state dinner held for France features, for first time, bouquets of domestically grown flowers; change is result of pressure by American cut-flower lobby, who argued that Michelle Obama should give flowers the same local-sourcing attention she gives food and wine. MORE

May. 1, 2014

Timber Press teams up with Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew, for series of books, each devoted to single flower. MORE

Apr. 24, 2014

Studies show that spring has arrived earlier and earlier over past several decades, one of most striking impacts attributed to global warming, and that warming affects plants from spring to fall; research shows that carbon dioxide that causes global warming may be directly affecting plants as well. MORE

Apr. 15, 2014

Study in journal PLoS Biology reports discovery of protein that causes flowering plants to grow in ways that benefit insects called leaf-hoppers, but stunts plants' growth; protein is transmitted to plants via pathogen carried by the insects. MORE

Apr. 3, 2014

Art of purposely cultivating moss, ancient plant that often pops up unbidden, has been mastered by only handful of gardeners; moss gardening pioneers Annie Martin and David Spain ply their trade in North Carolina. MORE

Apr. 2, 2014

Plant experts say New Yorkers may finally be in for a treat, after coldest March in area since 1984; say flowering species that normally bloom in succession are expected to overlap in rare combinations and create simultaneous burst of color. MORE

Mar. 18, 2014

Dr Peter Convey study in journal Current Biology reports that scientists have revived 1,500-year-old frozen moss samples from Signy Island, 375 off coast of Antarctica, and caused them to grow again; study is one of growing body of research in which long-dormant organisms have been revived, providing glimpses of past and hints about future. MORE

Feb. 25, 2014

Study in journal Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences reports that bottle gourds, widely used in early Native American societies, originated in Africa; researchers used relatively new method of genetic analysis called high-throughput sequencing to arrive at conclusion about the plants. MORE

Feb. 23, 2014

Floral designer Eric Buterbaugh, invitation designer Marc Friedland and spray-tan king Jimmy Coco are three specialists who put in numerous hours of work before the Academy Awards show to make sure the stars are ready. MORE

Jan. 30, 2014

Helen Yoest, garden writer and author of book Plants With Benefits: An Uninhibited Guide to the Aphrodisiac Herbs, Fruits, Flowers and Veggies in Your Garden, discusses amorous properties of plants. MORE

Jan. 30, 2014

Garden designer Jon Carloftis shops around Philadelphia, Kentucky and online for planters. MORE

Jan. 16, 2014

Jan. 14, 2014

Miniscule, nearly extinct waterlily has been stolen from London's Royal Botanic Gardens. MORE

Jan. 7, 2014

Study in journal Cell Reports says reasearchers have discovered genetic mutation that produces blue petunias, a rarity in nature. MORE

Jan. 2, 2014

Earth scientist and nature enthusiast Paul Zweng is attempting to return 1,443 acre plot of land in Hawaii's Waikane Valley to its native state, before invasive plants and animals arrived in Hawaiian islands. MORE

Dec. 31, 2013

Science Q&A on whether plants and trees compete with one another. MORE

Dec. 29, 2013

Explosion of interest in seasonal and pesticide-free food has influenced commercial flower industry, making it possible for couples to use locally grown and seasonal flowers for their bouquets and wedding floral arrangements. MORE

Dec. 24, 2013

Dec. 24, 2013

Scientists have sequenced genome of Amborella plant, sole survivor in lineage descending from ancestor of all flowering plants; plant's genome indicates that explosion of flowering plants in late Cretaceous period followed 'genetic doubling event,' or profusion of excess DNA in ancestor plant that enabled variety of new functions. MORE

Dec. 21, 2013

Organizations nationwide are working to increase the flagging numbers of monarch butterflies by planting milkweed, butterflies' only food source; experts agree that the greatest threat to the butterfly is its dwindling habitat in the Midwest and the Great Plains, where milkweed has diminished as cropland has expanded. MORE

Dec. 19, 2013

Vanessa Mitrani's Tree Vase, glass vase with planting space in one side, was originally designed as an aquarium. MORE

Nov. 27, 2013

Witch hazel, better known as a bottled astringent than a native shrub, likes to grow in damp woodlands and propels its seeds for yards. MORE

Nov. 24, 2013

News analysis; failure of millions of monarch butterflies to return to central Mexico in the first week of November is the latest bad news about the dramatic decline of insect populations; many experts blame the loss of native vegetation in the United States, food source for crucial populations of insects. MORE

Nov. 12, 2013

Study in journal Frontiers in Genetics finds that Paramos, diverse ecosystems occurring in Andes mountains at altitudes of 9,200 to 14,800 feet above sea level, are not only home to thousands of plant species in a relatively small area, but are home to the fastest evolution on Earth. MORE

Oct. 15, 2013

Open House London event provides visitors with rare opportunity to peek into Herbarium at Kew Gardens, vast collection of plant specimens and other treasures located next to popular botanic garden; herbarium, visited each week by scores of researchers from around the world, is usually closed to tourists. MORE

Oct. 11, 2013

Chrysanthemums are given royal treatment in Kiku: The Art of the Japanese Garden at New York Botanical Garden. MORE

Oct. 10, 2013

Kit Eaton App Smart column; array of smartphone apps help users identify trees, flowers, birds, animals and rocks, whether along nature trails or in their own backyards. MORE

Oct. 8, 2013

Science Q&A discusses reasons for number of petals found on flowers. MORE

Sep. 28, 2013

Op-Ed article by high school senior Anna Hitchcock recalls her experience studying the impact of invasive plant species on forest health during internship with the New York City Department of Parks and Recreation; draws comparison between the complexities of conservation and ancient Tibetan art form known as the mandala, which symbolizes impermanence and flux. MORE

Aug. 21, 2013

The greatest botanical artist of this century quietly works by hand at her home in the south of France. MORE

Jul. 23, 2013

Science Q&A on how plants with leaves that are a color other than green year-round can support themselves without chlorophyll. MORE

Jul. 16, 2013

Scientists are seeking to understand resiliency and adaptability of weeds and other undesirable plants in effort to find better ways to control them; globally, weeds result in a 10 percent reduction in crop productivity, and in the United States alone an estimated $33 billion in losses each year. MORE

Jul. 16, 2013

Jul. 12, 2013

The Epipactis helleborine sprouts happily from patios, rock walls, driveways, tree pits, lawns, privet hedges and hosta beds across all five boroughs and beyond. MORE

Jul. 5, 2013

Prickly pear cactuses around the city are filled with pollen, and bees find the blossoms irresistible. MORE

Jun. 23, 2013

Chuck Klosterman The Ethicist column answers question about taking cuttings from plants at a shopping center without paying for them. MORE

Jun. 15, 2013

Op-Ed article by biologist Marielle Anzelone argues that urban agriculture movement has lost its way by focusing almost entirely on planting trees and making cities as farm-like as possible; holds this human-centric view, favoring natural food production above all else, ignores important utility of plants and flowers, bees and butterflies, that are essential to our survival. MORE

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